SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AN ALIGNMENT OF VEHICLE MOUNTED SENSORS

• US 20070114218A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ehsani, Saed, Szawarski, Hubert, Joh, Gyu Myeong
• Granted Patent: US 7,601,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/203
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0892 Testing and production of rain sensors

Abstract

A system for detecting an alignment of a sensor mounted on a vehicle and a method of making the same is disclosed. The system includes a vehicle windshield having the sensor mounted thereto at a predetermined location. At least one conductive strip is included having a first and a second end, wherein the conductive strip is attached to the windshield. The system further includes at least one conductive point disposed between the windshield and the sensor and mounted at the first and the second end. The conductive point establishes a closed circuit between the conductive strip and the sensor so long as the sensor is mounted to the windshield at the predetermined location. Upon displacement of the sensor from the predetermined location, an open circuit occurs between the conductive strip and the conductive point. Accordingly, the sensor generates signals indicating the misalignment of the sensor.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an alignment of a sensor mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle windshield having the sensor mounted thereto at a predetermined location, wherein the sensor is configured to generate signals;

at least one conductive strip having a first and a second end, wherein the conductive strip is attached to the windshield; and

at least one conductive point mounted at the first and the second end and disposed between the windshield and the sensor, the conductive point being mounted to establish a closed circuit between the conductive strip and the sensor, wherein the closed circuit is maintained so long as the sensor is mounted to the windshield at the predetermined location, the sensor generating signals indicating the alignment of the sensor with the predetermined location when the sensor is displaced from the predetermined location and the conductive point establishing an open circuit with the conductive strip upon displacement of the sensor from the predetermined location.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a power source that is electrically coupled to the conductive point mounted at the first end.

3. The system of claim 2, further including a sensor input that is electrically coupled to the conductive point mounted at the second end.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a ground connection that is electrically coupled to the conductive point mounted at the first end.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to process the signals generated by the sensor and provide a sensor alignment notification.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive point being disposed between the windshield and the sensor includes the conductive point being fused to the windshield.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive strip includes three conductive strips each having a first and a second end.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive strip being attached to the windshield includes the conductive strip being fused to the windshield.

9. A system for detecting an alignment of a sensor mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle windshield having the sensor mounted thereto at a predetermined location, wherein the sensor is configured to generate signals;

at least one conductive strip having a first and a second end, wherein the conductive strip is attached to the sensor; and

at least one conductive point mounted at the first and the second end and disposed between the windshield and the sensor, the conductive point being mounted to form an open circuit between the conductive strip and the sensor, wherein the open circuit is maintained so long as the sensor is mounted to the windshield at the predetermined location, the sensor generating signals indicating the alignment of the sensor with the predetermined location when the sensor is displaced from the predetermined location and the conductive point establishing a closed circuit with the conductive strip upon displacement of the sensor from the predetermined location.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the conductive point is moveable and the closed circuit is established by movement of the conductive point in a predetermined direction.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the conductive point is a spring loaded switch that is normally biased in a depressed state and upon movement of the sensor away from the predetermined location, the spring loaded switch transitions to a non-depressed state, thereby establishing a closed circuit with the conductive strip.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one conductive strip includes three conductive strips each having a first and a second end.

13. The system of claim 9, further including a power source that is electrically coupled to the conductive point mounted at the first end.

14. The system of claim 13, further including a sensor input electrically coupled to the conductive point mounted at the second end.

15. The system of claim 9, further including a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller being configured to process the signals generated by the sensor and provide a sensor alignment notification.

16. The system of claim 9, further including a ground connection that is electrically coupled to the conductive point mounted at the first end.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the conductive point is disposed between the windshield and the sensor includes the conductive point being fused to the sensor.

18. A method of making a system for detecting an alignment of a sensor mounted on a vehicle windshield, the method comprising:

attaching at least one sensor to the windshield at a predetermined location, wherein the sensor is configured to generate signals;

attaching at least one conductive strip to the windshield, wherein the conductive strip has a first and a second end; and

mounting at least one conductive point to the sensor at the first and the second end, wherein the conductive point is disposed between the windshield and the sensor, the conductive point being mounted to establish a closed circuit between the conductive strip and the sensor, wherein the closed circuit is maintained so long as the sensor is mounted to the windshield at the predetermined location, the sensor generating signals indicating the alignment of the sensor with the predetermined location when the sensor is displaced from the predetermined location and the conductive point establishing an open circuit with the conductive strip upon displacement of the sensor from the predetermined location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein attaching at least one conductive strip to the windshield includes fusing the conductive strip to the windshield.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein attaching at least one conductive point to the windshield includes fusing the conductive point to the windshield.